Got Milk?

-


It seems like every time I go to the grocery store there is a new kind of milk to choose from. There’s regular milk, oat milk, almond milk, soymilk, lactose free milk…and the list goes on. I don’t know about you, but this wide selection can be a bit overwhelming to choose from.  Real quick, let’s clarify what milk actually is. Milk comes from a mammal like a cow or goat; anything that is plant-based is a milk alternative. 

So which option is the best to pull of the shelf?

Every kind of milk or milk alternative beverage has something different to bring to the table. It mostly depends on your own personal preference. Let’s go through a few of the popular options and talk about the differences.

·      Regular milk has a bunch of nutrients that are a little harder to find in other foods or drinks.  Calcium and Vitamin D are extremely important for growing and bone health. A glass of skim milk also contains Vitamin A and 8g of protein.

Nutrition Facts: https://www.dairypure.com/products/milk/lowfat                
                                                           
·      Someone who is lactose intolerant might choose lactose free milk. Basically, it is still regular milk but without the lactose (sugar in milk). It provides the same nutrients as regular milk.

Nutrition Facts: https://www.lactaid.com/products/lactaid-fat-free-milk#nutrition-facts

·      Almond milk is a great alternative for someone who doesn’t like the taste of regular milk. Almond milk can be bought sweetened or unsweetened. Unsweetened is the way to go since there aren’t any added sugars.  You can also pick from chocolate or vanilla flavors. This is also a great option for someone who is a vegan or follows a plant-based diet. It is a great source of vitamin E and there is more calcium than regular milk. The downside is the lack of protein.

Nutrition Facts: https://silk.com/plant-based-products/almondmilk/unsweet-almondmilk/

·      Soymilk is a great option for someone who is vegan or dislikes the taste of regular milk. Soymilk has 7g of protein, which is more than almond milk but less than regular milk. Also, soy is the only plant-based source that contains all the essential amino acids.

Nutrition Facts: https://silk.com/plant-based-products/soymilk/organic-unsweet-vanilla-soymilk

NM

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Are All Sugars Created Equal?

-
Image
Are All Sugars Created Equal?  I think one of the most confusing nutrition topics for people is sugar. With so many conflicting stories out there, it’s difficult to separate the facts from the fiction. Not to mention, the types of sugars are endless. How do we know what’s best for our bodies? White or brown sugar? Cane or raw? Should we just go with Stevia instead? Is it even okay to consume artificial sweeteners? Should we avoid foods with high amounts of natural sugar in them? Each answer only seems to lead to another question!  Let’s start off with distinguishing the purpose of sugar in the first place. Do our bodies even need it? The short answer is yes! Sugars are carbohydrates (what we commonly call “carbs”), one of the three main macronutrients that our bodies need for fuel to function and survive. One of the major ways to categorize sugar is by separating the “natural” sugars from the “added” sugars. Natural sugars are, well, naturally found in foods. They give us the energy th
Read more

Do you struggle with pre and post exercise nutrition?

-
Image
What should i eat before and after a workout? First things first…carbohydrates, proteins and fats are important for the body before  and after exercise. Exercising muscle preferentially uses carbohydrates from stored glycogen, but fats are also an important fuel source for energy production during exercise. Fats and carbohydrates are the two major fuel sources during exercise. Fats must be translocated and broken down from their storage form before they are used. Typically there is enough carbohydrate stored as muscle glycogen for exercise but as muscle glycogen stores decline, the skeletal muscle will then use some amino acids (basic components of all protein). More specifically, the amino acid leucine is used for energy.              It is important to consume an adequate amount of carbohydrates exercise to delay fatigue and minimize gastrointestinal distress. It is also important to consume enough fluids to prevent hypohydration. Now, lets talk about pre-exercise me
Read more